London, United Kingdom | 23-24 January 2027
ATHX London 2027 takes place on 23-24 January at ExCeL London, in the Royal Docks area of east London. It is one of the first events of the 2027 season, on the same weekend as ATHX San Diego (23 January), and it comes with new workouts and updated movement standards compared with 2026.
Key event details
Venue:
ExCeL London, 1 Western Gateway, London, United Kingdom, E16 1XL
Date:
23-24 January 2027. Heats run from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on both days, and you pick yours when you enter.
How to get there
- Airports: London City Airport is the closest to the venue, a 15-minute walk away or a short journey by DLR, bus or taxi. From Heathrow, the Elizabeth line runs directly to Custom House station in about 43 minutes.
- By train and DLR: the Elizabeth line and the DLR are the quickest routes. Get off at Custom House for the west entrance or at Prince Regent for the east entrance. The Elizabeth line takes about 15 minutes from central London and about 3 minutes from Canary Wharf.
- From the Tube: from Canning Town, take the DLR towards Beckton and get off at Custom House or Prince Regent. You can also walk from Canning Town station, which takes roughly 20 minutes.
- By car: the venue's car park has to be pre-booked to guarantee a space, and it is currently charged per calendar day, with a lower rate when you book online in advance. For sat nav, ExCeL recommends the postcode E16 1FR for the car park.
- Taxi and drop-off: there is a taxi rank and a drop-off and pick-up point on Western Gateway, at the west end of the venue, next to the west entrance.
- By bike: free cycle racks are available by the west entrance.
The ATHX format
2.5 hours of continuous competition across six zones: Warm-Up (30 min), Strength (20 min), Refuel (10 min), Endurance (30 min), Recovery (30 min) and MetCon X (30 min). The three workouts are the same at every event of the 2027 season, so you can train them well in advance.
This season's three workouts
- Strength (20 min): 1RM Shoulder to Overhead (minutes 0-5, press, push press, push jerk or split jerk), 2RM Back Squat (minutes 5-10) and 3RM Deadlift. For the deadlift you warm up from minute 10 to 12, then get two 1-minute windows to complete a 3RM, either as 3 continuous reps or 3 singles. The deadlift score is the average of your two lifts, and your final score is the sum of the three lifts. You can use the 15 kg or the 20 kg bar.
- Endurance (24-minute time cap): a set-distance run followed by maximum distance on the SkiErg until the cap. The run is 3 km in ATHX and Pro (10 laps of 300 m), and 2.4 km for Lite Pairs. Your score is the total distance you reach on the SkiErg.
- MetCon X (25-minute time cap): Row, dumbbell Ground to Overhead, dumbbell Bench Press, Sandbag Squats, Sandbag Carry, Burpees Over Soft Bench and a final Row. Your score is your finish time. In Lite, loads and reps are lower and you can step over the bench.
Categories and pricing
ATHX London offers three competition levels, ATHX Lite, ATHX and ATHX Pro, in Individual and Pairs format (male, female and mixed).
- Individual entry: £125
- Pairs entry: £225
Get ready for London with Velites
First, check what gear is allowed. The official ATHX 2027 movement standards do not allow lifting straps, hand grips, grip tape or gloves of any kind during competition. Wrist wraps, a single pair of knee sleeves (not rolled), elbow sleeves, a weightlifting belt, weightlifting shoes and your own chalk are all allowed in the strength zone. Note that the weightlifting belt is not allowed during the Sandbag Squats.
For competition day:
- Knee sleeves, for the 2RM Back Squat and the Sandbag Squats, where you have to get below parallel on every rep.
- Wrist wraps, to keep your wrists stable on the 1RM Shoulder to Overhead and the Dumbbell Bench Press.
- Hybrid 1.0 and Minimal 1.0 shoes, built to move between running, strength and metcon without changing footwear.
For your training block: Quad Ultra hand grips help you build barbell and pulling volume without tearing up your hands. Use them in the box and leave them in your bag on event day.
London: more than just fitness
- Tower of London: the historic fortress on the north bank of the Thames, one of the city's classic sights.
- British Museum: one of the world's great museums, an easy plan for the day after competing.
- Greenwich: the maritime district with its park and views over the river, ideal for a relaxed recovery walk.
Frequently asked questions
Where does ATHX London 2027 take place?
At ExCeL London, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL. Check the information the organisation sends to registered athletes to confirm the exact hall within the venue.
How do I get from the airport to the venue?
London City Airport is the closest, a 15-minute walk away or a short journey by DLR, bus or taxi. From Heathrow, the Elizabeth line goes directly to Custom House station in about 43 minutes. For other airports, plan your journey to Custom House or Prince Regent with Transport for London's journey planner.
Can I use hand grips or lifting straps during the competition?
No. The ATHX 2027 movement standards ban lifting straps in the strength zone, and hand grips, grip tape and gloves of any kind during competition. You can wear wrist wraps, one pair of knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, a weightlifting belt (except in the Sandbag Squats) and weightlifting shoes.
Are there more ATHX events in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2027?
Yes. ATHX Glasgow takes place on 5-6 June at The Scottish Event Campus, ATHX Dublin on 12-13 June at RDS Dublin, ATHX Birmingham on 20-22 August at NEC Birmingham, and ATHX Liverpool on 9-10 October at ACC Liverpool.
What changes in the 2027 workouts compared with 2026?
Strength now has a 1RM Shoulder to Overhead, a 2RM Back Squat and a 3RM Deadlift, instead of the Strict Press, 3RM Back Squat and 5RM Deadlift. Endurance becomes a set-distance run followed by maximum SkiErg distance, instead of alternating running and rowing. MetCon X now uses Row, Bench Press, Sandbag Squats and Burpees Over Soft Bench. Gloves and grip tape are also now banned.
Conclusion: see you in London
ATHX London 2027 opens the new season at ExCeL London with a fresh set of workouts. Train the three workouts, check what gear you can bring, and show up ready to compete.
See you in London!
